noun
Uncommon
yuan
yoo-AN
Yuan (noun) means the basic unit of currency in China. Example: “The meal cost about forty yuan.”
noun
1
The basic unit of currency in China.
"The meal cost about forty yuan."
"The drink is priced at 68 yuan ($9.45), according to the app."
— Jessie Yeung, Pork flavored coffee is Starbucks’ newest China pitch (2024)
"The popular Chinese coffee chain rolled out the so-called “sauce-flavored latte” with a jolt of liquor for 38 yuan ($5.20) on Monday. Customers who order with an online coupon will be able to receive 50% off for a limited time, it said."
— Berry Wang, Moutai coffee, anyone? Luckin is adding the fiery liquor to its lattes (2023)
"In Pinggu, a suburb of Beijing, residents were told that they would receive 50-yuan ($7.60) prizes in cash or merchandise once they had been fully vaccinated."
— Lily Kuo, China’s covid vaccine drive is lagging. Free food could help turn things around (2021)
proper noun
1
The imperial dynasty that ruled China from 1279 to 1368, founded by the Mongols.
"The Yuan dynasty was established by Kublai Khan."
How to use yuan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishChina's currency unit, or the Mongol dynasty that once ruled China.
UK vs US
In everyday English, "yuan" and "RMB" (renminbi) are often used loosely to mean the same thing, though technically renminbi is the currency's name and yuan is its basic unit.
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Word forms
- Plural
- yuans
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The meal cost about forty _____.
Etymology
From Mandarin yuán, originally meaning "round," referring to a round coin — the same root behind the Japanese yen and Korean won.
Synonyms
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kwai
kuai
Related words
Rhymes for yuan
See all rhymes for yuan →Frequently asked questions
What does “yuan” mean?
The word “yuan” means the basic unit of currency in China. In plain terms, china's currency unit, or the Mongol dynasty that once ruled China.
How do you pronounce “yuan”?
“Yuan” is pronounced yoo-AN (/juˈɑn/ in IPA).
How do you use “yuan” in a sentence?
Here is “yuan” used in a sentence: “The meal cost about forty yuan.”
What part of speech is “yuan”?
Depending on how it is used, “yuan” can be a noun and a proper noun.
Where does the word “yuan” come from?
The word “yuan” comes from Japanese. From Mandarin yuán, originally meaning "round," referring to a round coin — the same root behind the Japanese yen and Korean won.
Is “yuan” a common word?
“Yuan” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “yuan” have?
“Yuan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the basic unit of currency in China.
What is the difference between yuan the currency and Yuan the dynasty?
As a currency term, yuan refers to the basic unit of money in China. As a proper noun, Yuan refers to the imperial dynasty that ruled China from 1279 to 1368, founded by the Mongols, a completely different meaning distinguished mainly by context and capitalization.
Is yuan the same as renminbi?
Yuan is the basic unit of currency in China, while renminbi is the official name of the currency system itself; the two terms are closely related but refer to slightly different things, similar to how "dollar" and "United States currency" relate to each other.
Who founded the Yuan dynasty?
The Yuan dynasty, which ruled China from 1279 to 1368, was founded by the Mongols.
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